More than 60 people attended the Dromara Community Conversation on Wednesday evening, bringing together local residents, community representatives and partner organisations to discuss what matters most to the future of the village.
Delivered through the Lisburn & Castlereagh Strategic Community Planning Partnership, the event provided an opportunity for local people to share their views, celebrate what is working well in Dromara and identify areas where improvements could be made. Residents were joined by representatives from a range of partner organisations including Libraries NI, the Education Authority, South Eastern Regional College (SERC), South Eastern Trust, Sport NI, the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, Translink and Volunteer Now, alongside officers from across Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council.
Throughout the evening, participants took part in a series of discussions focused on local priorities, community strengths and opportunities for positive change.
Conversations highlighted the strong sense of community spirit within Dromara, with many participants speaking positively about the area's future and the ambition of local people to work together to support the village.
Feedback from those attending was overwhelmingly positive, with residents welcoming the opportunity to discuss issues important to them and contribute ideas in an open and engaging environment.
One resident said: "It was great to have the opportunity to discuss issues that are important to our community. Everyone was genuinely interested in listening to each other's views and there was a really positive atmosphere throughout the evening."
Partner organisations also welcomed the opportunity to engage directly with local people and hear first-hand about the issues, opportunities and aspirations that matter most to residents.
A representative from one of the partner organisations commented: "It was a valuable opportunity to speak directly with residents, hear their perspectives and take part in positive conversations about what is working well and how we can work together to make improvements."
The Community Conversation process will continue with a feedback session on Thursday 8 October at 6.30pm, where attendees will hear more about the key themes emerging from the discussions and the next steps for the initiative.
Residents are encouraged to attend the feedback session and continue contributing to the conversation about the future of Dromara.